Surprising as it may seem, Hewlett-Packard's spying scandal may coincide with a revival of the famous "HP Way." The HP Way served as a beacon that for years attracted employees to the Palo Alto, California, computer maker.

There's no shortage of scandal-stained corporations. But in today's cutthroat business environment and fiercely competitive employment market, a company's transgressions may not affect worker dedication or dissuade job seekers like they once did.

Don’t tell Stephen M.R. Covey that trust within an organization is an admirable but ultimately soft, fuzzy and less-than-critical attribute. He just co-wrote a book, The Speed of Trust, which argues that trust is a crucial factor affecting the cost of business.

Employee intellectual property theft can cost companies anywhere from $200 million to upwards of $1.2 trillion annually. Although intellectual property experts say there is no way to protect a company 100 percent, there are innovative ways to prevent damage.

Here is a realistic to-do list for employers who are at risk of a mass defection or the theft of valuable company assets, or who have already suffered such an incident. It shows ways to minimize a company’s risk of losing valuable employees and property and maximize its chances of success in the event of subsequent litigation.

Our organization is considering putting in place a policy that supports employee volunteering in the not-for-profit sector. It will allow us to build relationships with community groups, as well as encourage employees in their projects away from work. Do you have any recommendations regarding the benefit to our company, and what kind of qualifiers might need to be in place for the volunteer work to be undertaken?

Former Enron CEO Ken Lay's Houston speech wasn't about motivating his former employees. It was a self-centered attempt to publicly frame his defense strategy and maybe even lobby the jurors who will be sitting in judgment when his case goes to trial.